FR2546411A1 - RECLINING BED EXERCISE APPARATUS - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION RELATES TO A RECLINING BED EXERCISE APPARATUS. THIS APPLIANCE INCLUDES A TILTING BED 4 MOUNTED ON A FRAME 3 SO AS TO BE ABLE TO PIVOT ON BEARINGS 2, USING DRIVES 5. THE BED 4 INCLUDES A SUPPORT 6 ON WHICH A USER CAN EXTEND HIS TORSO, AND AN ELEMENT 7 EXCEEDS THE LOWER END OF BED 4 AND CARRIES A SUPPORT 9 THANKS TO WHICH THE USER CAN BE HELD BY HIS FEET AND ANKLES. THIS SUPPORT 9 IS ADJUSTABLE SO THAT THE USER, WHATEVER HIS SIZE, CAN TILT EASILY INTO THE RETURNED POSITION AND ALSO EASILY RETURN FROM THIS POSITION. FIELD OF APPLICATION: EXERCISE EQUIPMENT.

Description

The invention relates to exercise apparatus

  intended to subject a human user to movements

  This type of apparatus is known and is described in United States Patent Nos. 3,707,285, 3,716,231 and 4,232,662. also ankle retainers which are described in U.S. Patent No. 3,380,447 and in United States Patent Applications

No. 203,707 and No. 203336.

  The currently known embodiments of reclining beds pose problems regarding the size (and therefore the weight) of the user when the currently known reclining beds are totally

  overturned while carrying a user, the device

  carrying the feet passes through the vertical plane pas-

  by the pivot bearings at a point where the center of gravity of the user-formed assembly and the reclining bed are sufficiently far from the bearings

  pivoting to safely maintain the use of

  in the inverted position The means for supporting or maintaining the feet of these known apparatus are mounted

  adjustably on a straight rail so that

  The relatively large size user is supported, in the inverted position, from a point further away from the plane of the pivot bearings than in the case of a smaller person. Because of this geometry specific to such devices, a person of large size (and therefore heavier) tends to lock more firmly in the returned orientation, and a smaller person (and therefore lighter) has difficulty staying in the up position This is a serious disadvantage,

  because a tall user may have some

  a little panic-prone if he has trouble getting out of the upturned position, and the device is obviously unusable for a small person

  may remain in the inverted position.

  A reclining exercise machine that allows users of any size to reach an upturned position and to disengage

  also easily from this returned position.

  The structure of a reclining bed must be such that it can support the body sufficiently close to the center of gravity so that the user can

  oscillate the bed and arrive in a single position-

  This means that the bed alone has a relatively strong tendency to straighten itself from the upturned orientation, since the bed structure supporting the torso of the human body is posterior to the torso and Therefore, the center of

  bed depth is also posterior to the pivot axis

  When it does not support a person, the bed tends to stand up strongly and becomes almost neutral by receiving the center of gravity of the user, prior to the pivot axis. the effect of the weight of the latter, the user can move the combined center of gravity

  so that it is totally anterior to the pivot axis-

  to achieve a reversal.

  The object of the invention is therefore to enable the control of the displacement of the combined center of gravity of the

  bed and users of various physical sizes.

  Another object of the invention is a reclining bed by which practically all users can reach

  in a reversed position and can come back as easily

this reverse position.

  The objects of the invention are made by a reclining bed in which users of various sizes, when in the inverted position, apply

  substantially the same torque moment to a stop

stop.

  The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of non-limiting example and in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tilting bed exercise apparatus according to the invention; FIG. an elevation of the reclining bed

  of Figure 1, showing a user in a sensi-

  Fig. 3 is an elevation of the reclining bed and user of Fig. 2 in a neutral equilibrium orientation; Figure 4 is an elevation of the reclining bed

  and the user of Figure 2, the user begins

  rotating to an inverted position; Figure 5 is an elevation of the reclining bed and the user of Figure 2, the reverse position being reached; Fig. 6 is an elevation of a tilting bed of the prior art showing the adjustment interval as a function of the size of the user; Figure 7 is a front view of the tilting bed of Figure 1, with partial section showing the bearings of the pivots; Fig. 8 is an enlarged partial sectional view of a pivot bearing and a journal, taken along the line indicated by the circle 8 in Fig. 7; Figure 9 is a partial cross-section of the tilting bed adjusting mechanism of Figure 1, depending on the size; Figure 10 is an elevation of the reclining bed according to the invention used by a person large; and Fig. 11 is an elevation of the reclining bed according to the invention used by a small person. FIG. 1 represents an exercise machine 1 with a tilting bed comprising pivoting bearings 2 carried by a frame 3 A tilting bed 4 is mounted between the bearings 2, on journals 5, approximately in the middle of the length of the bed The latter comprises a support 6 which is dimensioned and configured substantially to the size and shape of the torso of a person A beam 7 extends from the lower central part of the support 6 of torso and ends with an inclined bar 8 on

  which a support 9 feet is mounted so as to

  see slide A lock 10 is intended to engage with any one of several separate stops 11 of

  adjustment to position the support 9 appropriately

  The foot support 9 includes a footrest 12 and a bar 13 for the feet. The pivot bearings 2 are held coaxially to each other and parallel to the ground surface by two feet. posterior 16 and two

  front feet 17 A spacer 18 connects the ends

  inside half feet 16 to a greater width

  at the distance between the bearings 2, and a

  toise 19 connects the ends of the feet 17 to a width less than the distance between the bearings 2 A stop bar 22 has a length greater than the distance between the transverse legs 17 and lower than the distance between transversely between

  the hind feet 16, so that after a rotation

  tilting bed, this bar passes between the feet

  16 and abuts against the feet 17.

  FIG. 2 represents a user on the reclining bed 4, the support 9 of feet being adjusted by means of the lock 10 as a function of the approximate size of the user. The feet of this latter bear on the footrest 12, the metatarsal view being disposed between the footrest 12 and the bar 13 Anchors 20 having hooks 21 which partially surround the bar 13 are clamped around the user's pegs to prevent the user from falling into position partially or

totally reversed.

  FIG. 3 represents the user resting on the reclining bed 4 in a neutral equilibrium position in which the user's center of gravity, indicated in G 1, and the center of gravity of the reclining bed,

254641 I

  indicated in G 2, coincide and are contained in the plan

  vertical passing through the pivot axis 24.

  FIG. 4 shows the user who has raised his arms in order to translate his center of gravity G 1 over a distance D from the plane 24 of the pivot axis, which has the effect of tilting the reclining bed 4 and the user in the direction indicated by the arrow 25 In the orientation shown, the center of gravity G 2 of the reclining bed remains approximately

  in the plane 24 of the pivot axis.

  FIG. 5 shows the user who has tilted to a complete overturning position in which he is totally held by the engagement of the hooks 21 of the anchor holding device 20 on the bar 13. At this moment, the user is totally freed of the torso support 6 of the reclining bed 4 and is ready to perform stretching movements and exercises in the inverted position The user's center of gravity G 1 is spaced apart by a distance D 1 from the plane 24 of the pivot axis, this distance being sufficient

  to apply the stop bar 22 against the feet pos-

  The center of gravity G 2 of the reclining bed 4 is spaced a small distance D 2 i which has

  the effect of applying a limited time-tending to

  If the product of G 1 by D 1 is greater than the product of G 2 by D 2, the reclining bed and the user remain in the fully inverted position If the user oscillates or pushes his body towards the rear, towards the vertical plane of the pivot axis, D 1 may decrease sufficiently to make the product G 1 by D 1 lower than the product G 2

  by D 2 and thus to cause a rotation towards the posi-

  As G 2 and D 2 are constant in the inverted position, to maintain the stability of the user regardless of their weight, i.e.

  for various values of G 1, D 1 varies inversely

  Proportionally with G 1, so that the product of G, by Dl remains approximately constant In general, tall people are heavier than small people A person over 1.80 meters tall normally weighs about 90 kg, while a person less than 1.50 meters tall weighs about 45 kg The 9 feet stand can be adjusted

  along the bar 8, along the inclined line L-S.

  To the extreme setting position L corresponding to

  large individuals, D 1 is significantly lower than

  the value he is taking towards the setting position

  extreme S corresponding to small people.

  The angle of the sloping bar 8 is sufficient to vary D 1 by a factor of 2 over the adjustment range of the L-S line, maintaining the balance within

  limits suitable for almost all sizes of

  substantially all users using the anchor holding devices 20 so that the hooks 21 are engaged with the

  support bar 13 of the feet, can carry out exer-

  with great mobility, without accidentally falling

the reverse position.

  FIG. 6 shows the geometry of prior devices in which a beam 30 constitutes a straight line extension of the structure of a bed

  reclining 31 A setting device 32 generally permits

  Adjusting a support 33 of feet carrying a bar 34 for the feet, along a line L 1-51, to allow adjustment according to the differences in sizes of users By adjusting-in the direction L 1, we achieves a proportional increase of D 1 for higher weight users Conversely, by adjusting in the Sj direction, a proportional decrease in D 1 is obtained for lower weight users Therefore, the product of D 1

  G 1 for a tall person is much higher than

  less than that obtained for a smaller person Since the product of G 2 by D 2 remains constant, a tall person has difficulty returning from a reversed position, and a person of small size

  sometimes can not reach the reverse position at all.

  Figure 7, which is a front view of the

  exercise reclining bed according to the invention, shows the reclining bed in the inverted position, the stop bar 22 having passed between the rear legs 16 and resting against the front legs 17 The spacers 18 and 19 maintain the respective legs and tend to recall bearings 2 pivoting against trunks

36 stop pins 5.

  FIG. 8 represents a journal 5 and a bearing 2 of pivoting applied against an axial abutment 36, a latch 37 with a spring preventing any separation

  in the case where the load of the axial stop is overcome.

  FIG. 9 represents the beam 7 of the bed

  clinch 4 protruding from the support 6 of torso, in the inverted position The bar 8 carries the support 9 of feet which itself carries the footrest 12 and the bar 13 for the feet The support 9 feet can slide on the

  bar 8 and it can be positioned along this last

  by means of a locking pin 10 passing through at least one wall of the bar 8 and in one of several holes 11 of at least one wall of the bar 8. Figure 10 shows a large user in the inverted position on the recumbent exercise machine 1, the foot support 9 being set at the end farthest from the bar 8, setting for which the distance D 1 is low and the product D 1 by

  G 1 is only slightly higher than the product of D 2 by G 2.

  The user is then stabilized in the inverted position.

  FIG. 11 shows a small user in the inverted position on the reclining bed exercise apparatus 1, the foot support 9 being set at the close end of the bar 8, wherein the distance Di is large and the product of Di by G 1 is also slightly greater than the product of D 2 by G 2 The user is also stabilized in the inverted position. The simplicity of the apparatus and the adjustment device described, compared to the previous devices, offers a great flexibility of use, which did not exist until now, to the users, whatever their size, as well as the insurance to arrive in position

  overturned and come back from this position, which

  is a significant improvement over the prior art. It goes without saying that many modifications can be made to the apparatus described and shown

  without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (14)

  1 exercise apparatus, characterized in that it comprises two spaced bearings (2) pivoting, means for maintaining the bearings coaxially to one another, parallel to the surface of the ground and at a distance above this surface, a reclining bed (4) arranged between the bearings and pivotably mounted therein, substantially in the middle thereof, the reclining bed having a support (6) dimensioned and configured in a corresponding manner substantially the size and shape of the torso of a   person to support the torso, a device   protruding longitudinally from the lower end of the torso support, the apparatus also comprising a   anchor holding device (20) attached to the disc   positive protruding so that the user can attach   its ankles in reclining bed, a stop (22) of pivots-   allowing the reclining bed to support the use of   to rotate to a stop position in which the anchor holding device has turned beyond the vertical plane (24) passing through the axis of the pivot bearings, the inclinable bed carrying adjustment means which allows the anchor holding device to be positioned longitudinally and selectively with respect to the pivot bearings so that the holding device can be placed in any one of   several positions in relation to the vertical plane when   that the reclining bed is in its abutment position, this range of positions relative to the vertical plane extending from a fixed remote position in which the anchor holding device is the closest to the vertical plane passing through the axis of the pivot bearings to a fixed close position in which the device   the ankle is the farthest from the vertical plane   tical passing through the axis of the pivot bearings.   2 Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the means supporting the pivot bearings comprise a frame (3) having two front legs (17) and two hind feet (16), the front legs being closer than the hind feet and the stop comprising a bar (22) transverse to the support   torso, this bar being short enough to   between the hind feet and long enough to bear against the front legs of the frame and to stop the rotation of the bed.   3 Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the torso support is a one-piece made of plastic material, configured to marry   noticeably the curvature of the human back.   Exercise apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivoting mounting of the reclining bed comprises a transverse bar passing under the torso support and bending forwardly to terminate at each end by a trunnion (5). ) housed in a landing associated pivoting.   Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the journals of the pivotal mounting comprise   flanges (6) and that the pivot bearings   the respective parties are solicited inwards against thrust flanges.   Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the pivotal mounting journals pass into the respective pivot bearings and have locking means (37) opposing any removal of trunnions of their bearings.   7 Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the two front legs are connected by a transverse bar (19) at their far ends, and in that the two hind feet are also connected by a transverse bar (18) at their far ends , transverse bars tending to bring the bearings closer together pivoting one from the other.   8 Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the beam (7) protruding from the torso support is   substantially centered between the pivot bearings.   Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized   in that the foot support comprises a horizontal bar   tale (13) on which a hook (21) is engaged, on each side of the inclined bar, the hooks being fixed to a device (20) for holding the pegs tightly   around each ankle of the user.   Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized   in that the foot support comprises a surrounding structure   at least partially the user's ankles.   Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the longitudinally extending element of the torso support comprises a bent bar (8) extending from a   position of the torso support to a posi-   distance from said torso support, this   bar having a close section which is connected directly   to the torso support and substantially away from it, an intermediate section extending substantially towards the front and the outside of the close section, and a remote section extending substantially   towards the rear and towards the outside of the intermediate section diary.   Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized   in that the adjustment means comprise a mechanism   mechanism (9) for modifying the position of the anchor holding device so that it can be selectively mounted in one of a plurality of fixed positions   along the element protruding from the torso support.   Exercise apparatus, characterized in that it comprises two spaced apart pivoting bearings (2), means for maintaining the pivot bearings coaxially with each other, parallel to the surface of the ground and to a certain extent distance above the latter, a reclining bed (4) disposed between the pivot bearings in which it is mounted so as to be able to pivot substantially in the middle, a support (6) of a torso of a human being situated on the reclining bed , an element (7) of substantially bent shape protruding from the end   lower part of the torso support, a device (20) for   your ankles can be connected in a mobile way   to the element protruding from the support, a stop (22)   whereby the tilting bed, supporting a user, can be rotated to a stop position in which the dowel holding device is rotated past the vertical plane (24) passing through the axis of the pivoting, the element protruding from the torso support having a close section which is directly connected to the torso support and which, when the   bed is in said stop position, extends substantially   outwardly, an intermediate section extending substantially towards the front and towards the outside of the close section, and a distant section extending substantially   towards the rear and towards the outside of the intermediate section   diary, the device for holding the pins, movable on said element protruding from the torso support, being able to   selectively placed in one of several posi-   fixed positions including a fixed position at the end of   distant position and a fixed position at the near end, all these fixed positions, when the reclining bed is in a returned position beyond   vertically, being situated on the same side of the vertical plane   the center of gravity of the user and on the other side of said vertical plane relative to the center of gravity of the reclining bed, all said fixed positions being substantially situated so that, when the reclining bed is in the inverted position, beyond   the vertical, said fixed position at the close end   at the greatest distance from the vertical plane passing through the axis of the pivot bearings while said fixed position at the far end is closest to the vertical plane passing through the axis of the pivot bearings, all the others fixed positions being substantially along a line between the fixed position at the close end and the   fixed position at the far end.   Exercise apparatus, characterized in that it comprises two spaced pivoting bearings (2), a frame (3) for supporting the pivot bearings so that they are coaxial, parallel to the ground surface and to a certain distance above this surface, the frame having two front legs (17) and two hind feet (16), the front legs being closer than the hind feet, a reclining bed (4) arranged between the bearings pivotally mounted in said bearings, substantially in the middle thereof, a beam (7) protruding from the lower end of the tilting bed and terminating in an elongated bar (8) adapted to be disposed between the dowels a user, a support (9) feet fixed to said bar, and   a cross-connected pivot stop bar (22)   in the reclining bed, this stop bar being short enough to pass between the rear legs and long enough to bear against the front legs of the frame and to stop the rotation of the reclining bed so that the latter, when supporting a user, can be rotated to a stop position in which the foot support has turned beyond the vertical plane (24)   passing through the axis of the pivot bearings.   Apparatus according to claim 14, characterized   characterized in that it further comprises a support (6)   placed on the reclining bed and dimensioned and configured to substantially correspond to the size and shape of a human torso, a support (13) of feet being fixed to said bar (8).   Apparatus according to claim 15, characterized   characterized in that the front legs have front and rear sides so that the reclining bed can be rotated from an initial raised position, in which the foot support bears against the front sides of the front legs, to an end position returned in which   the pivot stop bar goes beyond the vertical plane   tical passing through the axis of the pivot bearings and door   against the back side of the inner feet.   Apparatus according to claim 14, characterized   characterized in that the beam is inclined at an angle such that its near end is disposed prior to the user's ankles and that its far end   placed posterior to the ankles of the user   tor. 18 An exercise apparatus, characterized in that it comprises two spaced bearings (2) for pivoting, means for supporting the pivot bearings so that they are coaxial, parallel to the surface of the ground and located at a distance above this surface, a tilting bed (4) disposed between the pivot bearings   and mounted so as to be able to pivot in these bearings, feel   sibly in the middle, a support (6) of human torso located on the reclining bed, a member <7), substantially bent shape, protruding from the lower end of the torso support, a device (20) for maintaining the ankles , movably connected to the protruding element   of the torso support, a pivot stop (22)   both in reclining bed supporting the user to be   turned to a stop position in which the dis-   Positive holding the pins has moved beyond the vertical plane (24) passing through the axis of the pivot bearings,   the element protruding from the reclining bed having a   close to the torso support which, when the bed is in that position,   stop, extends substantially outwards, a section   intermediate stage extending substantially forward and   towards the outside of the close section, and a distant stretch of   extending substantially backwards and   intermediate bearing means, the means supporting the pivot bearings comprising a frame (3) which comprises two front legs (17) and two rear legs (16), the front legs being closer than the rear legs, the pivoting stop comprising a bar (22) which extends transversely to the reclining bed and which is short enough to pass between the hind legs and long enough to bear against the front legs of the frame and to stop the rotation of the reclining bed so that the latter, supporting a the user can be turned to a stop position in which the device   ankle support has moved beyond the green plane   tical passing through the axis of the bearings.